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Page 215
a shame to rid oneself of such a good excuse to come and go from the king's presence. While Salisbury wished to be with his half brother, he had only to commit Lady Ela's letters to the flames. When he wished to go, it was only necessary to present the pathetic missive.
That was all less to the point than why Salisbury had left John. It was possible he came early to England out of love of Ian, to lend his presence to the wedding and thus soften John's spite. Certainly, he had asked sincere and anxious questions about Ian's lameness. There were, however, more interesting reasons that could be suggested. Had Salisbury come to spread the news about this new tax so that the shock when John announced it would be less? Had he opposed his brother's will in this matter and left either in pique or in disgrace?
"Of course it does not matter to me," Lord Llewelyn remarked. "A thirteenth of nothing is still nothing. North Wales is a poor land, and any man who wants a thirteenthor any other portionof its wild flocks can come and hunt them through the hills. Still, I send my people out to hunt before a war, not after. Money is needed for fighting, not for peace. I understand, moreover, that the king had great success in this campaign. Was there no booty?"
"Llewelyn," Joan murmured, "do not be so mischievous. This is not the time or place to make trouble."
"There could not be much booty," William of Pembroke's deep voice rumbled from the right of Lady Salisbury. "Since the lands were his to begin with, the king could have no profit in stripping them."
Salisbury looked down the table. "That is generous, Pembroke," he remarked.
"It is just," William replied stiffly.
"Still, there must have been rich ransoms," Leicester commented. "I heard Montauban was stuffed with Philip's nobility."
"You heard aright, but the ransoms did not go to the

 
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